An interesting Topps situation

[Nickademus]

Hey all,
I just thought I would share this and see if anyone else had gotten or heard of something similar.

About 2 weeks ago I sent some cards back to Topps to be replaced, the usualy stuff, such as bent corners on the bowman cards, nothing serious. Except a Reggie Bush Rookie Rewind Patch card that had a production line right down the middle of it.
Anyway Saturday I get the stuff back and they have a letter with it unlike any I have ever seen with the workd "we replaced the cards as a one time courtosy (yes misspelled) We are returning the Reggie Bush" No punctuation on any of it.

Also the areas highlighted in the letter are:

"We are unable to comply with your request due to insufficient proof of purchase. We now require all of the following items from the product(s)."

#1 Copy Sales receipt(s) ---odd but ok, I guess they feel it is there business what else I buy. I guess I will make sure I am not buying anything "risque or embarassing" with my cards Not that I do but hey you never know. Someday I might live and die by my "Prep. H" or Viagra (lets hope not but honestly you never know) and I guess if that happens Topps wants to know about it.

#2 All Wrappers from Product - (no "s"on the end of this one, just the other 2-I guess one wrapper is enough here? lol.) This is not unusual and I do it anyway when I send stuff. Always have.

#3 UPC from bottom of box(s) (yes another misspelling-this thing was FULL of grammatical and spelling errors. I really would have expected better. Maybe I shouldn't but...) Now what I want to know is how the hell am I supposed to get the UPC from a box I buy a pack out of at Wal Mart or Target? Or even my local hobby shop for that matter.
I guess it is possible I could get it from the local shop here if he feels like trashing his box, but god forbid there is anyone else who gets anything damaged before me if it is the last box. Bottom line is I think this is unreasonable. Really what difference could this POSSIBLY make?

Also was interesting the no one actually signed the letter.

I think all this is getting a little out of hand. I used to love Topps because I really thought they had the best CS. It kind of sucked how much I have had to send stuff back to them since they are also the worst about damaged corners in their lower end stuff like regular topps and bowman, Also the centering sucks on a lot of their chrome stuff.

Also I want to know why all of this Proof of Purchase crap is necessary in the first place. Is there really that much of a problem with people stealing their stuff and then sending it in to be replaced?
If not that then what?
My wife thought maybe it was so you couldn't trade for a card and then if it was damaged send it back in (which I have done) but my arguement here is what difference does it make who bought it?
Someone has the card so it was clearly purchased by someone at some point. What good is a receipt except an invasion of privacy and extra hassle. The UPS is a REALLY big hassle.

My honest guess is that they are getting so much returned to them they are trying to make it harder so they don't have to replace as much. Very simple solution to this.

PACKAGE THE CARDS BETTER...Cramming them into the boxes like they do these days isn't helping anything. Especially with the foil wrappers that are sometimes too tight or folded over or whatever.
It sounds wierd and maybe it is just my area but I think I got fewer dinged cards from the old wax packs.

Anyway I think there was more that I wanted to say but I forgot.
I think I will call them tomorrow and ask a person ™™™ on this.
I would love to hear the rational.
-Jason

[nrj189]

Make sure you post what they say, interesting to see why they would need the UPC code.

[spydermat]

wow, i have never had anything like this at all from topps. id give the a call. and really complain that if they ask so much of you they can atleast write a letter completely spelled and punctuated correctly....... on a side note howd you get your ebay name? from the blink 182 cd?

[Nickademus]

Yeah I will let everyone know how it goes.

Spydermat-
Actually from the book/movie Alice in Wonderland.
I couldn't have regular cheshire cat since it was taken so I just added a * and K instead of c. Best I could do. I couldn't get any version of Nickademus I liked so I had to take what I could get.
Honestly I was thinking of changing it again after the new year.
Getting kind of bored of it.
-Jason

[spydermat]

i didnt even think about the alice in wonderland reference.

[gosoxx777]

i would expect that from upper deck but not topps :(

[tutall]

i think it is actually to prevent pack searchers... if they go around bending stuff up to see what is inside (which is probably pretty easy to do) then replace it you will have to buy the box. Also it is proof to them that the cards were not damaged at the hobby shop etc... if you send the box they assume you bought the sealed box and know it was a manufactor error instead of a careless kid who bends stuff up

[Nickademus]

gosoxx777-
Interestingly enough UD has been really good about it the last time I sent them stuff.
I know one time doesn't make a pattern but I am hoping.

tutall-
hhmmmm yeah I guess maybe. But that seems to punish the majority of people out there to attempt to try and screw a few pack searchers. Especially when the cards I send back are damaged corners and stuff not creased in the middle. (Although I did get one like that from a Donruss pack once, always wondered how it got like that, never thought about those guys that bend the packs like idiots.)
And really that is pretty whacked to only take care of those that buy full boxes. I usually just buy about 5 packs at a time when I go to the store with the wife. I guess on the boxes I do buy I better start taking the UPC off in case I need it for a retail pack.
Interesting theory you have though and it makes some sense I just don't think that makes it any more ok for them to do that.
-Jason

[pr0phet]

It seems the quality of topps cards has gone down hill majorly... You just happen to be another in that boat Jason.

Sorry to hear of the troubles
Jay

[tutall]

honestly though... i dont think it is because they want to curb theft as once it leaves the warehouse i really doubt they care as they have their money... o well... maybe that would be an interesting email to send to them just to ask why... although if it is like dealing with them a couple years ago you wont get an email back.